AN: PyrusAngel wanted some snow, so I figured, what the hey? It kinda fits in, haha.

Chapter 37: Home Again

Logan met Rogue and Gambit at the train station for their return and found Gambit wearing his Christmas present from Rogue—a shirt that said "I'm Naked! Under my clothes." Likewise, Rogue was also wearing hers from Gambit, a silver chain necklace. Logan took one look at the shirt then raised an eyebrow at Rogue.

"Why do you persist on buying him shirts like that?" he asked.

"Because they're funny and he's brave enough to wear them," Rogue nodded.

Gambit chuckled.

"You all right, darlin'?" Logan asked.

"Yeah, I'm doing way better than what I was," she replied. "Just no bear hugs for awhile, okay?"

"Okay," Logan agreed as he picked up her bag for her. "Car's this way. Other than the obvious, did you at least have a good Christmas?"

"Yep," Rogue replied cheerfully. "I'm starting to feel like a member of the family."

"Just as long as you don't take up the family business."

"Aimee did offer to teach me how to pick locks."

"She did?" Gambit asked, sounding amused. "What you say?"

"Maybe next year," Rogue said.

"You know, lock picking is a pretty valuable skill," Gambit advised.

"You would know," Logan said dryly.

"I would," he nodded. "Lock picking got me out of Strykers."

"Hard to argue with that, isn't it?" Rogue mused.

Logan grunted and opened the car.

"I see you added a few more pimples to your collection, Squeaky," Logan said as he slid Rogue's bag into the back.

"Shut up," Gambit muttered.

"He's feeling sore because Emil bought him a big basket of pimple cream for Christmas," Rogue giggled.

"I thought that stuff was supposed to get rid of them, not add to them," Logan commented.

"That's exactly what I said," Rogue grinned.

"Hmm," Rogue said as they pulled up to the gates. "I see we've had snow."

"Yep," Logan said as he wound down the window and punch in his code to open the gates.

"Pretty localised snow drifts aren't they?" Gambit mused, glancing around. "Stormy's having mood swings again?"

"Yeah, we had a blizzard two days ago."

"Ahh. Bet the neighbours loved that."

"We got no complaints," Logan replied wryly as they headed down the cleared driveway. "Especially after Amara and Angelica cleared the roads."

"I miss out on all the fun," Gambit sighed.

"Fun, he calls it," Logan muttered.

Rogue giggled.

"Hey Logan," she said. "If you and Storm ever decide to have a second baby, maybe you should think about taking a year off somewhere."

Logan growled at her. Gambit and Rogue just laughed.

Gambit tapped lightly on Hank's office door. Hank glanced up from his computer and turned his head to see Gambit standing apprehensively in the door way.

"Ahh, Remy," he said. "Back from New Orleans, I see."

"Oui," Gambit said, smiling tentatively. "Hey, I was hoping you might do me a little favour."

"Certainly."

"I was hoping," Gambit said, holding out a small wooden box. "That you might tell me if...if Mignonette is my daughter."

Hank blinked as he accepted the box and opened it. The inside of the box had been lined with foam, and nestled in the cushioning were two DNA samples; one from Bella Donna and the other from Mignonette.

"Of course," Hank replied gently.

"Do you need a sample of my DNA?" Gambit asked.

"No, I already have it on file. This will take a couple of days," Hank advised him.

"That's fine," Gambit said, shoving his hands into his back pockets. "I've been waiting years, what's a few more days?"

"Ahh," Hank nodded. "Were you hoping for a particular result?"

"Not any more, Hank. I just want to know."

It was eight o'clock on Friday night when Rogue and Gambit began watching Lord of the Rings in the staff room. Joining them were Roberto, John, Tracy, Forge, and Jones. Kitty and Piotr, Sam and Tabitha, and interestingly, Bobby and Angelica were all out on dates. Jubilee and Betsy had gone out on the town. Warren, Emma, Storm, Logan, Evelyn, and Hank weren't interested. Jones was very excited to be included in their marathon, especially when he was usually discluded from the adults' night time activities.

Everyone was prepared with pillows, pajamas and popcorn, although Roberto had a few things to say about what kind of pajamas Rogue and Tracy should be wearing, and that a pillow fight should be involved. They threw popcorn at him for that. The staff room was preferred over Gambit's room, mostly because Gambit didn't want all of them in his room, but also because there was more space in the staff room.

It was a little difficult to enjoy the first half of The Fellowship of the Ring, what with Logan, Warren, Evelyn, and Emma busy playing pool and having their own chatter in the background. Nevertheless, partway through the second half, the watchers were finally able to switch the lights out. Gambit took advantage to properly snuggle up besides Rogue.

"You know what scene I love?" Tracy said when the first movie finally ended and Rogue got up to change the discs over. "When Sam chases on after Frodo even though he can't swim."

"I love that scene too," Rogue agreed. "But, Sam's the hero of course. You'd expect such behaviour from him."

"I thought Frodo was the hero," John frowned.

"Nope, it's definitely Sam," Rogue nodded.

"But Frodo's the ring bearer," John insisted.

"So? Look, Sam is in the movies from beginning to end—"

"So is Frodo. In fact, he shows up sooner than Sam does."

"Sam's crucial to the main plot line."

"Hello! Frodo's the ring bearer!"

"And Sam gets the girl in the end," Rogue finished smugly.

Gambit, Roberto, Forge, and Tracy burst out laughing. John opened his mouth to respond, closed it and shook his head.

"Can't argue with that, can you?" Rogue grinned.

"You suck," John sighed.

"I'll take that as a yes," Rogue nodded. "And now for The Two Towers."

Rogue nestled back down on the lounge in front of Gambit again, who wrapped his arm around her. He liked how well their bodies fitted next to each other. He especially liked that Rogue wasn't wearing underwear beneath her pajamas, for that matter. His hand rested under her top against her stomach, his ever-restless fingers stroking her skin gently. His foot rubbed hers. He was very careful not to rub her stomach too hard; there was still bruising there after all, even if they were looking a lot better now. He was careful not to press to hard against her back either for the same reason.

It was odd, but Gambit had decided that it didn't really bother him that Rogue wanted to wait before having sex. Granted, a little retraining on his part was required when making out with her, but just being able to hold her like he was now was enough to make him happy.

If she ever changed her mind he wouldn't complain though. He could think of all sorts of fun things he'd love to do with her.

Wandering fingers travelled down Rogue's stomach, lingered on her hip for a few scenes, always caressing and finally gave her butt a squeeze. Rogue turned her head to throw Gambit an amused look, and he took advantage of having her attention to kiss her lips firmly. He moved his hand up to cup her chin, and she threaded her fingers into his hair.

Eventually the movie distracted them from their moment. Rogue enjoyed feeling Gambit's body next to her, his fingers stroking her hip and the occasional kiss on the back of her neck or her cheek. Times like this she liked that he couldn't sit still.

Roughly four in the morning, they finally started on Return of the King, but it wasn't until they changed to the second disc of the third movie that others at Xaviers started making their appearance. Logan showed up about seven.

"You kids still watching this?" he asked.

"Shh!"

"We're almost there."

"Hmph," Logan grunted and peered over to look at Rogue and Gambit on the lounge. "Comfy?"

"Uh huh," Rogue murmured. "When this is over, I'm going to crash."

Gambit chuckled.

"That looks likes more than hand holding to me, Squeaky," Logan added.

"Cuddling's not allowed, M'sieur Claws?" Gambit asked.

Logan smirked at him with his hands resting on the back of the lounge.

"You can stay there," Logan said. "But only because I find it hilarious hearing you say the word 'cuddling'."

Gambit chuckled. Jones used his techopathy to turn the volume up in 'silent' protest of their conversation.

The final movie edged closer to the conclusion and Hank walked in as Sam and Frodo were being rescued by the eagles.

"I see that your marathon is about to reach its conclusion," Hank commented.

"You kidding?" Tracy said. "We've still got half a dozen endings to watch."

Hank was a little perplexed by this comment, until he watched the rest of the movie with them and saw multiple points where the movie could have concluded, but didn't. More than once he started to speak, only to be interrupted. Finally he just kept his mouth shut until the credits started to roll.

"Remy," he said.

"Oui?" Gambit asked, sitting up on the lounge to look at him.

"I have the tests results you wanted," Hank said, holding out two envelopes to him. "One for you, and one for the... Bella Donna."

Gambit slowly reached out and accepted the white envelopes.

"Thanks for this," he said softly.

Hank only nodded in return, with a slight smile that didn't give Gambit a hint of what was inside and departed.

"What test?" asked Tracy curiously.

"Remy?" Rogue said, cutting in before Tracy realised that Gambit was just going to ignore her question. "Wanna walk me to my room?"

Gambit chuckled.

"Sure, I can do that," he said.

"Aww," Tracy teased them.

Rogue stopped long enough to collect her DVDs, then with one hand resting comfortably around her waist, Gambit walked with Rogue back to her room. He held the envelopes in his other hand.

"Well, here we are," Gambit said when they reached her door. "Have a good sleep, ma chère."

"I will," Rogue replied and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips softly. "You wanna come in for a bit?"

He kissed her back while he considered.

"Okay," he agreed. "But only because Logan's not likely to come along any time soon and fuss about PDA."

"PDA is Public Displays of Affection," Rogue pointed out as she opened her bedroom door.

"It can also stand for Private Displays of Affection. He wasn't very specific," Gambit joked.

Rogue giggled and pulled him inside after her. Gambit kicked the door shut behind him as their lips tangled. Rogue felt Gambit's hands slide up her back, although there was something odd about his left hand—he was holding it different for some reason.

Oh yeah.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Rogue said, pulling away. "You're probably eager to see the test results and here I am distracting you."

Gambit smiled and ran the fingers of his free hand down her cheek.

"But what a beautiful distraction," he murmured.

"Aww, flatterer," Rogue smirked at him. "I want some sleep anyway. I'll let you go."

"Merci," he said softly. "Have a good sleep."

"I will."

Gambit turned for the door, then stopped.

"Rogue?"

"Yeah?"

"Would you mind being here while I do?"

"Oh," Rogue said with a blink. "Well, yes, that's fine. If you really want me to. I would have thought you wanted some privacy."

"Not this time," he decided.

Rogue sat down on the edge of her bad and patted the space next to her.

"Whatever you want," she said seriously.

Gambit nodded and then sat down beside her. One envelope was marked with his name and the other with Bella Donna's. He put Bella Donna's aside and stared at his own for a moment. Finally he slipped his finger under the seal of the envelope and ripped it open. Rogue said nothing, just watched patiently as Gambit slowly pulled the sheet of paper out.

"I can't believe I'm so nervous about this," he muttered and finally unfolded it.

She was sorely tempted to peek over his shoulder when Gambit didn't say anything straight away, but restrained herself and waited for him to speak.

"She's not mine," Gambit said finally.

"Disappointed?" Rogue asked, unable to gauge what he thought from his tone.

Gambit looked up and turned his head to catch Rogue's searching eyes. The paper slipped from his fingers and fell to the floor. He shrugged.

"There was a time when I really wanted her to be mine," he admitted. "Didn't matter that the marriage between Belle and I was arranged, I was looking forward to it, y'know?"

"You loved her?"

"I thought so. We even thought about getting married anyway, regardless of what Julien thought but..." Gambit shrugged. "We grew apart, I guess. Work didn't help any either; we both travelled a lot. Still, once I really wanted Mignonette to be mine."

He sighed and Rogue moved in. She wrapped one arm around his waist and rested her other hand on his knee.

"Nowadays," he went on. "Well, Belle's right. I can't be a father to her, and I guess a part of me is glad. Hell, chère, Mignonette turns eighteen this year. I've missed so much. I mean, I want to be a father, but I want everything that comes with it too, good and bad. Not just the ability to point and say 'she came from my sperm'."

Rogue giggled.

"Yeah," she said. "That's classy."

Gambit chuckled and kissed her softly.

"Well," Rogue continued. "You know what this means?"

"Rogue," Gambit said darkly. "If you're going to make another sterile joke, I'm going to spank you."

"Actually I was going to complain that I can't get you this 'Sperm Donar' shirt I found," Rogue smirked. "But since you mentioned it..."

"I'm not kidding. I will bend you over my knee and spank you," Gambit nodded. "And only because we're not legally eighteen yet so I can't elope with you and prove just how virile I am."

Rogue laughed, then turned on her knee, lifted her other leg over his lap and put her hands on his shoulders.

"Oh really?" she mused. "So, now if I ever decide I wanted to trick you into marrying me, all I have to do is poke fun at your ability to have children."

"It's not nice, chère," Gambit said reproachfully as he ran his hands up her legs and rested them on her firm behind. "I don't call you barren."

"True," she conceded. "But I like annoying you. You're so cute when you're annoyed and there's so little ammunition I get to use against you. Although the pimple thing had been fun lately."

"Speaking of which, Miss all-so-perfect-skin," Gambit said. "You've got one too."

"I do not," Rogue replied.

"Oui, you do. Right there," he said, putting his finger on the sole pimple by the side of her nose.

"It's a sympathy pimple," she decided.

Gambit chuckled and kissed her softly. Rogue kissed him back and nipped at his bottom lip.

"So," she said softly while her hands tugged at the hem of his shirt. "You want to be a father, huh?"

"That so hard to believe?" Gambit asked.

"Yes and no," Rogue shrugged. "I could picture you with a family, I just didn't think you were the settling down kind."

"Just because I haven't been successful in having my own family, doesn't mean I don't want one, chère," he pointed out.

"Hmm," Rogue said and pressed into him so that he had to lie down on the bed. "That's good to know."

Gambit lifted his hands from her behind and ran them up her sides as she kissed him.

"If you didn't know before, why'd you ask me out?" he asked.

"Because I love you, silly," Rogue replied and tapped his nose. "What other reason do I need?"

"I like that answer," Gambit decided and then grinned at her. "We just got serious, didn't we?"

"Hell yes."

"Does this mean I can touch your boobs now?"

"Hell no."

"Damn."

"I find you much too tempting as it is," Rogue said coyly, grinning down at him. "Trying to work on my self control here."

"Oh, I'm tempting am I?" Gambit asked, tucking his fingers in under her pajama top to run them along her back.

"Uh huh," she murmured while her lips got busy on his neck. "I promise I'll lay off the sterile jokes."

"Good girl. I promise to find another reason to spank you. Oh, I know!" he joked. "You can let me touch your boobs, and then I can spank you for giving into temptation."

Rogue giggled and lifted her head.

"Nice try," she said.

"Nothing nice about it," he grinned at her. "It was entirely self-serving. I like any excuse to touch you."

"I like you touching me. I like touching you too," Rogue replied and lowered her head to kiss him deeply.

There was no more time for words as their tongues danced with each other. Gambit moved his hands to cup her face as she ran one of hers over his chest. Then he moved his hands up her arms, over her sides, her behind and finally rested on her knees which were folded up just within reach.

Rogue's hand trailed down his chest and then slipped in underneath his shirt, her fingers kneading his firm muscle. Gambit moved his hands back up to her hips and Rogue gasped into his mouth as he ground her against him, feeling his manhood even between two sets of clothes.

Gambit chuckled softly as Rogue lifted her head.

"When I finally get to sleep," she said dryly, "I'm going to have the dirtiest dreams because of you."

"Oh goody."